Jim Schaefer has been a fixture on Al Bagnoli’s coaching staffs for 33 seasons, first at Union College and now at Penn, where he is second on the Red and Blue coaching staff in years of service with 22.

Among Schaefer's charges have been a third-round NFL draft pick (Mitch Marrow in 1998) and 28 All-Ivy players. In six of the past sevens seasons, at least two members of the defensive line have earned All-Ivy recognition, including three of the team's starters in 2010. Most recently, Schaefer tutored three-time All-Ivy recipient and current member of the NFL's Tennessee Titans, Brandon Copeland.

In 2010, the Quakers finished with the best rushing defense in the nation and, for the second straight year, led the Ivy League in sacks. Schaefer’s defensive line produced three All-Ivy honorees—Copeland was a first-team recipient, Drew Goldsmith was a second-team selection and Brian Wing earned honorable mention status. Behind that group, the Red and Blue also led the Ivy League in total defense and scoring defense.

The 2009 season was one of Penn’s best from the perspective of the defensive line. As part of the nation’s No. 1 ranked defense, the Red and Blue finished atop the Ivy League and seventh in the country with 31 sacks. Four different Quakers ranked among the top 10 in the Ivy League in that category. With much thanks to the front line, Penn also finished atop the Ancient Eight and second in the nation against the run. Joe Goniprow, who earned preseason All-America recognition, was a first-team All-Ivy selection.

Schaefer’s squad also contained opponents proficiently in 2008. Three linemen received All-Ivy honors as Joe Rost and Goniprow were named second-team All-Ivy, while Guillermo Ruffolo collected Honorable Mention All-Ivy honors.

In 2005, Schaefer mentored Jim Malizia into first-team honors and the Ivy League lead in sacks. The 2003 season saw All-Ivy honors bestowed on first-teamer Ryan Strahlendorff, second-teamer Michael Sangobowale and the 2000-2001 first-team brother combination of Ed and John Galan. Sangobowale made a return trip to the All-Ivy team in 2004, earning a first-team spot, while defensive end Bobby Fallon earned an All-Ivy nod under the tutelage of Schaefer as a second-teamer that season.

Schaefer joined Bagnoli at Union in 1981 and spent 10 seasons as a part-time assistant on his staff, where he worked with both the offensive and defensive lines, held the position of assistant dean of admissions and served as Union’s head men’s and women’s ski coach (1981-91).

A 1980 graduate of St. Lawrence University (N.Y.) in history and economics, Schaefer was a three-year letterwinner on the offensive line. He has taken language and cultural classes at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Pine Ridge, S.D., and was also a counselor for Penn’s National Youth Sports Program from 1993-95.

Schaefer and his wife, Yvonne, reside in Medford Lakes, N.J. with their three daughters, Marguerite, Katherine and Lorelei.